Revolving Views At Movenpick

The elevator opened to the view of lights, twinkling in the dark – Nairobi by night shone in all its glitz and glamour, acknowledging the beauty that she is. The city beamed in the most remarkable way, we just had to stop and take it all in as we looked out of the floor to ceiling glass windows. From the skyscrapers in Upperhill to those in the CBD, it felt like we were on top of Nairobi.

“I can see us moving!” said one of my colleagues in excitement. Salome Jepkorir, the communication manager at The View Restaurant at Movenpick hotel, confirmed she was right: “The restaurant revolves 360 degrees in 80 minutes,” she informed us. We concentrated hard so we could notice the slow movement; after overcoming some slight disorientation, I took a seat facing the window.

At the View, Nairobi’s newest upmarket culinary destination, the tasteful and minimalistic decor, allows for the main feature of the restaurant to stand out. The menu features Swiss dishes such as veal, barley soup, Zurich style chicken and Fondue specialities. Our team of five silently watched the constantly changing panorama down below. We were the ones revolving, yet it felt like it was the city that was presenting itself to us.

We started with a selection of hot and cold starters; tomato soup with small “Bufalina” mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, basil and grissini and the onion and bacon tart with crème fraîche both won us over. The soup was thick and warm, and the richness from the mozzarella toned down the tanginess that tomato soups sometimes have. The onion and bacon tart had wafer-thin slices of onion wrapped in crisp puff pastry revealing a fluffy bacon-filled middle, each bite providing a forkful of flavour.

Onion and Bacon Tart

When we arrived, we had a clear view of the CBD but by the time the main course dishes were placed in front of us, The Oval in Westlands was now in plain sight and the restaurant’s entrance, which was right behind us when we arrived, now on a different side of the restaurant. The fine dining restaurant revolves in such a way that only the area where patrons sit, revolves.

For the main course options, we had the strip loin steak and the pork medallion. The steak made a sizzling entrance on a hot plate with roasted cherry tomatoes and potato gratin on the side. Medium cooked, just how I like it, the steak was juicy, tender and oozing in flavour. The evenly browned potato gratin was silky with a heavily creamy profile.

Striploin Steak with Potato Gratin

Stuffed, but with a little room left over for dessert, we had warm almond savarin served with a raspberry sorbet, chocolate fondue served with fresh fruits, and the gluten-free Swiss carrot cake. The cake was soft and velvety and a truly delicious dessert.

Carrot Cake

Revolving restaurants are a popular find around the globe and it’s definitely nice to see Kenya offering a similar experience. If you’re looking for a special place to take your date The View provides an unforgettable rich and rare experience that you must try.